The Osceola times., 1887-02-19

itAb Va hhC shhi y, oiatS ~ w.
.eminary. She watches the moving
man with an intensity that is absolute
ly painful. He is now crossing the
roof of large block that is only sepa-
rated from the seminary building by a
narrow lane. In his hand is a coiled
rope. What will he do with thisp
Susie is not held long in suspense.
Once, twice, thrice he hurls a moose
at one Of the great chimneys. The
third throw secures hold. and then
he is climbing, going up. up until the
roof and chimney hide him from view.
No one seems to see the daring youth
save the girl at the window she
watches and waits with an intensity Of
feeling that is painful, wondering and
alarmed at the sight. After minute
curly brown head comes to view
above the ridge Of the seminary roof.
Susie stands breathless as brown
hand moves along toward the fugitive
robin, and then-the bird is gone!
With defiant, wicked little twitter,
master robin spreads his wings and
alights on the peak Of n morrow gable
far out of the climbers reach.
''Oh, dear!'
1t was a natural exclamation of girl
ish petulence and disappointment.
Dan Hurlock does not mean TO give up
so. He draws himself to the ridgepole,
and with startling suddenness rises to
his feet. A thrill shoots through his
breast as he towers thus above all the
buildings in the vicinity; vast, airy
expanse about him, the world in minia-
turc below. That thrill of conscious
danger sends the blood from the brown
cheek, and fills the frank brown eyes
with scared look not pleasant to
see.
go back, Dan, you can not get the
birdr"
But Hurlock heeds not the warning
voice of Susie. He means to capture
his obstinate namesake If possible.
Sinking back the youth calls gently the
name of the robin. The bird darts into
the air, flutters a moment over the
young mans head, then settles within
six feet Of him on the slate below-just
beyond reach. Hurlock lies fiat and
begins to slide down the steep descent.
At length he clings to the ridge with
one hand above, while with the other
he reaches down after the bird.
The provoking little redbreast is just
beyond his grasp. 1t, too, is clinging
for foothold. Again Hurlock calls,
but Red Dan only tips his head with an
expression of extreme wisdom. seems
to listen a moment, then hops just a
little farther away.
The young climber makes one more
supreme effort to seize the bird. and
then his hold on the ridge relaxes-hc
is lost! A cry of horror falls from the
lips of Susie, who has watched every
movement of the daring youth She
closes her eyes as the sound Of u sliding
body CRATES on her senses-the next
sound will be that awful thud one hum
dred feet below! Amoment thus, then
a dead. awful silence that is more ter
rible than the crash of ten thousand
cannon.
Susie ventures to look. Half way
down the steep roof of the seminary is
Dan Hurlock. lying fiat, clinging, yet
moving slowly, an inch second to the
awful doom that awaits him below
The horrors of that moment no pen
can describe. She can not see his face.
consequently is spared the ghastly hor-
ror depicted there. And then, with a
meek and humble twitter. as if peni-
tent for sin. Red Dan flies in at the
window and perches on his mistress
shoulder. But the bird is nothing now.
With dilating eyes, heaving bosom and
almost pulseless heart, Susie watches
the man who is slowly yet surely slid
ing to an awful doom. Far out she leans,
as if by inspiration. as she sees aman's
face at the window opposite, she
screams loudly;
"Help! Eelpl Help"
Each cry is louder than the proceed
ing one. The opposite window opens,
and one of the teachers looks over at
the wild-eyed, white-faced girl, who
seems in such sore distress.
.'He is on the roof! Quick! The rope
is on the other side! Go up that way
and save himn screams Snsie in a
voice husky With the horror that con-
sumes her.
"On the roof? The ropep do not
understand" says the man.
Susie realizes that it will soon be too
late--that any movement to save Dan
Hurlock must be made at once. This
thought cools her blood like ice. and
she tells the trouble in swift, calm
words that can not be mistaken. The
man leaves the window, and once more
the eyes of Susie are fixed on the cling
ing youth opposite.
Courage. Dan. Cling! Cling! Help
is comingr
The voice Of the girl reaches his ear,
but he can say nothing; even speech he
feels will loosen his cling to the states.
His clothes are coarse and rough, his
feet are shoeless, and this fact alone
has thus far deferred his doom; but he
feels all support giving way. slowly
yet surely he is going to the verge of
an awful abyss. 1t is hundred feet
from the projecting caves to the court
below. Red Dan, the cause of all the
mischief is forgotten now. There is
no help, no hope. Such is the pale